title: The results of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder: a retrospective clinical study of 22 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery using a Coblation® technique that creates small voids within the disc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2008 and December 2009, 22 patients with cervical disc disorders were treated with cervical nucleoplasty after failed conservative treatment. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, and fluoroscopic guidance and voids were created in the disc with the Perc™ DC Spine Wand™. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Macnab criteria and VAS score at preprocedure, postprocedure 1 month, and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients had one, eight patients had two and eight patients had three discs treated; a total of 46 procedures was performed. Mean VAS reduced from 9.3 at preprocedure to 3.7 at postprocedure 1 month and to 3.4 at postprocedure 6 months. There was no significant complication related to the procedure within the first month. Outcomes were good or excellent in 17/22 (77.3%) cases. Postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in two patients after two months showing morphologic evidence of volume reduction of protruded disc material in one patient but not in the other.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous decompression with a nucleoplasty using a Coblation® technique in the treatment of cervical disc disorder is a safe, minimally-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure, with an excellent short-term clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Eun Sung
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Duk Kyung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hae Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hwa Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin